[QUICK AUTHORS NOTE, HOPEFULLY THE LAST FOR A BIT!]
Hello, just wanted to let you (the readers) know something before moving forward. I'll be switching between a first person perspective and a third person from time to time. I'll try my best to indicate it, but watch out for these:
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When you see those alone on a line, that typically means I'm either switching scenes, events, time, or perspective! I may also switch first-person perspectives between characters and not just Xingyun. I may also not include it for writing purposes (such as making the writing smooth) but I'll try my best to make it seem obvious!
Enjoy!
[CHAPTER STARTS BELOW!]
It was nearly impossible to avoid getting cut. I stopped moving for a moment, and Lingchuan immediately hesitated, hastily shifting into a defensive stance.
I searched the crowd and caught sight of my father. His eyes were dialed on the fight, jaw tight, shoulder tensed. He was clearly stressed about the outcome, or perhaps, me.
Suddenly, another sword tore through space beside me, grazing my arm. A shallow cut opened along my arm, warm blood trickling down.
"Haha. You can't do anything, can you?" Xu Lingchuan mocked, voice dripping with arrogance. "Just stand there and let me finish you off. I'll even apologize to your father afterward in your place, how about that?"
I exhaled sharply through my nose. "And you can't seem to shut up, can you? I'm going all out now. I hope you're prepared to handle it."
He scoffed, "Try me. I'll have you-"
Before he could finish, I slid into a wide stance, sword lowered to my side. My focus narrowed. My killing intent surged forth like a blade of its own, locking onto him.
A silence cut through the arena like thunder.
Gasps erupted from the crowd, though I didn't look their way -- I could feel their eyes now, the pressure of hundreds turning toward me.
"What is this feeling?!"
"He's releasing killing intent... he plans to really kill Xu Lingchuan! What happened?"
From the stands, a thunderous voice roared.
"Shi Tianho! Why is your boy trying to kill my son?"
That was Xu Jinhai, the Xu family patriarch. His fury echoed across the arena.
I heard my father calmly reply. "I don't know... My son isn't the type to kill. Believe in him."
"You think so? That killing intent says otherwise!"
"Jinhai, when will you mature? You and I both know for one to fully go out, they must do it with intention!"
Xu Jinhai gritted his teeth. "Well, you better be ready to face the consequences if he does!"
I zoned out their voices. All I focused on was Xu Lingchuan, standing there with that smug look on his face, like I was beneath him. A face that was very similar to me, one you saw all the time on Earth.
Blood boiled in my veins. My breath grew heavy. I didn't release my killing intent by accident. I did it deliberately, to send a message.
I had every intention of making sure he didn't leave this arena with that smug face and arrogant attitude.
"Shi Attack Style, Form 1: Instantaneous Slash."
Infused with my full power and killing intent, the attack was far stronger than anything I'd shown in the first match. The force of the slash kicked up dirt and dust, forming a natural smokescreen that clouded the arena.
For now, it would temporarily hinder his ability to push swords or fists through space.
I spread out my qi once again, thinner than before, and quickly located him, dashing through the smoke.
I turned in his direction and bolted toward him. My blade slashed out, cutting the side of his arm. A clean hit. My first real one on him.
He kept running like a headless chicken, and I began slicing into him little by little. Eventually, we reached the other side of the arena. Suddenly, he began laughing.
I raised an eyebrow, but ignored it and slashed again. This time, my sword hit something. But it wasn't him. It was space itself. He'd lured me, without me realizing, into a zone filled with space tears.
Understanding the first level of the space dao is essential for all high-level cultivators. It allows them to sense and avoid these spatial ruptures. But at my age, it's not a requirement, nor is it something anyone is taught until much later.
Now I had to be extremely cautious. One misstep, and I could lose an entire limb. My body wasn't strong enough to withstand space tears. I had carelessly, and angrily, walked straight into a death trap.
"Well, would you look at that," he said, strolling forward. "I thought you'd be smarter. Turns out you're all brawn and no brains. Pretty unfitting for the heir of a family like the Shi."
He stopped in front of me and rested a hand on my shoulder.
"Though... I'll admit, you've got battle sense. The smokescreen was clever. And you did manage to land a few solid hits."
My attacks had done decent damage. There were large cuts across his body, some of them still bleeding.
"Now, all I need to do is give you a little push... and you'll be shredded worse than I am. But, being the kind and generous man I am, I'll give you a chance. Forfeit the match. Spare yourself the pain."
I looked at him dead in the eye and spat on his robes. "I'd rather die than forfeit to a rat like you, hiding behind traps and cheap tricks!"
He shrugged. "Don't say I didn't warn you. And stop calling me a rat. I don't exactly want to do this, but-"
I spat again, this time on his face. "Just shut up and do it. I'm not interested in your pathetic excuses."
He sighed, then pushed me forward, right into the tears.
Agony shot through my entire body. Cuts erupted across my skin one after another. Blood gushed and streamed down my limbs. I screamed. It was a pain far beyond anything I had ever experienced, even in my hellish past life.
Still, I caught my footing and managed to stay standing.
The smoke began to fade. Slowly, the crowd could see us again. Xu Jinhai laughed from the stands, while my father's face was frozen in worry.
The referee stepped forward and signaled the end of the match.
My loss.
It was utter humiliation. I hadn't just shamed the Shi family... I had disgraced myself. I'd let anger take over, even just for a moment. And this was the result.
The medical team rushed over and carried me off the stage on a stretcher. Xu Lingchuan was still laughing. I turned my head and pointed weakly at him.
"You better not lose... because when we meet again, I'm going to beat you so badly you'll wish you never showed up."
His expression twisted, anger flashing in his eyes.
But before he could respond, my vision went black. I woke up in bed, my father sitting quietly beside me.